Irani Cup: Ranji Champions Vidarbha Clinch Maiden title

They beat Rest of India by virtue of their massive first innings lead.

The hosts had posted a total of 800 in their first innings and then bowled out Rest of India for 390 on the final day.

The final scores:

Vidarbha: 800 for 7 declared & 79- for no loss.

Rest of India: 390 all out.

Know about Irani Cup

The Z. R. Irani Cup (earlier called Irani Trophy) tournament was conceived during the 1959-60 season to mark the completion of 25 years of the Ranji Trophy championship, named after the late Z. R. Irani.

The fixture is played annually between the incumbent Ranji Trophy winners and the Rest of India Team.

National Affairs

The ministerial meeting of World Trade Organisation begins in New Delhi

The informal meeting will provide an opportunity for ministers to explore in greater detail the options on different issues for re-invigorating the WTO.

This is the second WTO mini-ministerial meeting being hosted by India (first in 2009).

The meeting assumes significance after the collapse of WTO Buenos Aires ministerial talks in December last year.

The meeting will strive to find a permanent solution to the food stock-holding by WTO member countries.

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Today, President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated five-day Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and present Gandhian Young Technological Innovation awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan New Delhi.

The festival is an initiative to recognize, respect, showcase, reward innovations and to foster a supportive ecosystem for innovators.

It is being organized by Rashtrapati Bhavan in association with the Department of Science and Technology & the National Innovation Foundation-India.

The festival is an exhibition of innovations that will remain open for public viewing between 1200 hrs to 1700 hrs at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sri Lanka pay tribute to J. Dalmiya with a book ‘A Tribute to Jagu’

The Sri Lankan Cricket(SLC) paid tribute to the former BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) President ‘Jagmohan Dalmiya’ with a book ‘A Ribute to Jagu’ on the 70th Independence Day of the island nation.

International Appointments

China to appoint Yi Gang as new central bank governor

China has selected American-trained economist Yi Gang to become the country's new central bank Governor.

According to the Wall Street Journal(WSJ), the nomination of Yi’s was reviewed by the nearly 3,000 delegates attending the National People's Congress.

His appointment to the top post at the People's Bank of China (PBOC) was set to be approved when the legislature reconvenes.

Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib- Fakim resigns over a financial scandal

Mauritius President ‘Ameenah Gurib-Fakim’ (58-year) has resigned after being embroiled in a financial scandal, the use of a credit card to buy luxury personal item, provided by an NGO.

Africa's only female head of the state, Gurib-Fakim is an internationally renowned scientist and biologist.

Vladimir Putin wins a historic fourth term as Russian President

Russian President Vladimir Putin stormed to victory in presidential election, giving him another six years in power.

Putin won more than 75% of the vote according to preliminary results.

He is well ahead of his nearest rival Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin at 13.2%.

The Kremlin pushed for the high turnout to give greater legitimacy to Putin's historic fourth term.

About 107 million Russians were eligible to cast ballots and turnout was 60% before polls closed in Moscow.

Know about Vladimir Putin:

Putin was born in Leningrad in the Soviet Union, studied law at Saint Petersburg State University, graduating (in 1975).

Putin was a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before retiring in 1991 to enter politics in Saint Petersburg.

Note:

The President of the Russian Federation is the elected head of state, Supreme Commander-in-Chief, and holder of the highest office in the Russian Federation.

Russia is the largest country in the world by area (17,125,200 square kilometers), covering more than one-eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area and the ninth most populous, with over 144 million people at the end of December 2017.